Bat Dâmbâng

Battambang (also Batdambang) is a province of Cambodia. It is in the northwest of the country, and its capital is Battambang.The name literally means loss of stick referring to a legend of Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung Stick King).

Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city (urban area population 124,290 according to the 1998 census). It is an elegant riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country. Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples (Phnom Banon, Wat Ek Phnom...) and villages. It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if National Highway 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of wats scattered around the town. The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artefacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more wats and a large lake. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau (Ship Hill) with the notorious killing caves

Battambang is now a smooth, sealed 293km (181mi) bus or share-taxi ride from the capital.